Mouth problems and mouth care

When you’re ill, you’re more likely to have mouth problems. Treatments including chemotherapy and radiotherapy can also increase your risk of developing mouth problems. Having a sore or unclean mouth can affect your comfort and make you feel low. Keeping your mouth clean and healthy can reduce your risk of mouth problems by stopping bacteria building up and keeping your mouth fresh.   

On this page:

The information on this page contains some practical tips that you might find helpful. But if your health or social care professional has told you about specific ways to care for your mouth, you should follow their advice. This is especially important if you’ve had surgery or radiotherapy on your head or neck as these treatments can cause specific mouth problems.

What problems can affect the mouth?

Dryness, sore mouth, ulcers, bad breath, infections, changes in taste and drooling are all common problems for people living with a terminal illness.   

Talk to your doctor or nurse if you have:

• mouth pain
• dryness
• redness
• swelling
• ulcers or other sores
• white patches on your mouth or tongue - this can be a sign of infection  
• bleeding
• difficulty cleaning your teeth or dentures by yourself
• any other mouth problems.

They can check if there’s a particular cause and may be able to prescribe medication if it’s needed. If your mouth problems mean that swallowing pills is difficult for you, you may be prescribed liquid or water-soluble painkillers. They can also advise you on liquid food supplements if it’s too painful or difficult for you to eat solid food.

Brushing your teeth

It’s important to care for your mouth in the way that’s comfortable for you. If you have any questions, talk to your health or social care professional.

Here are some practical tips on brushing your teeth:

• Brush your teeth twice a day for at least two minutes, using a toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste.
• A soft toothbrush is best if your mouth is sore.
• An electric toothbrush can be very effective and may be less tiring to use.
• You only need to use only a small amount of toothpaste.
• Change your toothbrush every three months.

Cleaning false teeth and dentures

Here are some practical tips on keeping false teeth and dentures fresh and clean:

• If you wear dentures or dental plates, take them out and clean them at least once a day using a large toothbrush or denture brush.
• Rinse dentures thoroughly with warm water after eating.
• Don’t use toothpaste on dentures, use water or a special denture cleaner.
• Soak dentures or plates overnight in water, or as directed.
• Rinse them thoroughly before putting them back in your mouth.

Dry mouth

There are lots of things you can do to keep your mouth and lips moist:

• Take regular sips of water or other cold, unsweetened drinks.
• Suck on ice cubes, ice chips or ice lollies.
• Chew sugar-free gum or suck on sugar-free sweets to stimulate the production of saliva.
• Avoid sucking on acidic or sugary foods as they can cause tooth decay.
• Ask your doctor or pharmacist about saliva substitute sprays and gels.   
• Moisturise your lips with a petroleum-based jelly such as Vaseline®. Don’t use Vaseline® if you have oxygen therapy as this can cause blistering and can be a fire hazard. You can use a water-based jelly such as KY-Jelly® instead.

Sore mouth

If your mouth is sore, these tips may help:

• Avoid alcohol and tobacco or try to reduce how much you drink and smoke.
• Avoid acidic foods such as citrus foods.
• Ask your doctor or pharmacist about mouthwashes and pain killers.  
• Soothe your mouth with cold liquid foods like custard, yoghurt, ice cream, jelly, mousse or chilled soups.
• Allow hot food to cool down a bit before eating.
• Try softer foods like porridge, pasta with a sauce, egg dishes, fish in sauce and milky puddings.
• Eat moist food, for example with gravy or sauces.
• Avoid dry foods like biscuits, toast and crisps, but if you do enjoy these, chew them well and have plenty to drink.
• Avoid spicy foods like curries and pickles.
• Try drinking through a straw to stop liquids coming into contact with the sorest part of your mouth. 

Home dental visits

Visit your dentist regularly, if you’re able to.

If you’re not able to get to your dental practice, you may be able to have a home dental visit. To find out more about the community dental care in your area, visit the:

• NHS website   in England.
• NHS website for Wales   in Wales.
• ISD Scotland website   in Scotland.
• Northern Health and Social Care Trust   in Northern Ireland.

Information for carers

If you are caring for a friend or relative, you can help them manage their mouth problems. Read our information about helping someone with mouthcare.